Arts News
Suburb
By Amy Somensky
Feb 28, 2005, 21:48 GMT

New York: For all the books, movies and sitcoms that have either eulogized or vilified them, the suburbs have been largely ignored by musical theater — until now. Suburb takes an insightful, witty, and nuanced view of the world of the lawnmower, the barbecue, and the mall, exploring Suburb's rites and rituals. Theater Under the Stars will present the New Jersey premiere of this award-winning musical from February 25 to March 13 at the Parish House Theater.

Book by David Javerbaum & Robert S. Cohen, Music by Robert S. Cohen, Lyrics by David Javerbaum, Directed by Leslie Potashner, Musical Direction by Tamara Cashour, Choreography by Donald Earle Howes.

This Desperate Housewives meets Rent story revolves around Alison and Stuart, a young professional couple living in the city and now expecting a baby. Stuart finds himself suddenly seized by and overwhelming desire to go suburban, while Alison is afraid of becoming her mother. Rhoda is an “Ûber-realtor hell-bent on selling Alison and Stuart their dream house. Tom is a widower and avid do-it-yourselfer, who in the face of retirement, has reluctantly put his home of 40 years up for sale.

David Javerbaum and Bob Cohen began collaborating in 1996. The two were both children of the New Jersey suburbs — David from Maplewood, Bob from Fair Lawn — and, following the maxim "Write what you know," they began to work. Their musical Suburb took shape in workshops at Musical Theatre Works (MTW), where in June of 1997 they performed a staged reading of their first five songs. Over the next two years, David and Bob wrote twelve more, continuing to develop the piece at both MTW and the NYU Graduate Musical Theatre Alumni Workshop.

In 2000, Suburb won the prestigious Richard Rodgers Development Award, which helped fund a workshop production at the off-Broadway York Theatre, directed by Jennifer Uphoff Gray. This workshop led to the show's premiere at Buffalo's Alleyway Theatre. Following that success, the York Theatre Company in Manhattan staged its critically acclaimed production during the 2000-2001 season, earning Best Musical Nominations from the Lucille Lortel Awards, the Outer Critics' Circle, and the Drama League Award.

David Javerbaum (Lyricist/Co-Author) is the Head Writer for The Daily Show with Jon Stewart on Comedy Central. Robert S. Cohen (Composer/Co-Author) is a recipient of the 2000 Richard Rodgers Development Award for his work in Suburb.

Leslie Potashner, Executive Director of Theater Under the Stars, directs the play.

Performing in the show are Will Coles, Carri Dolce, Joseph LaFalce, Lisa McElwee, Shayne Austin Miller, Lynette Sheard, Kyle Younger, and Linda Ziegler. The show performs at the Parish House Theater of the Pleasantdale Presbyterian Church, 662 Eagle Rock Avenue from February 25 through March 13. For information call 973-325-0795 or visit www.TheaterUnderTheStars.org. Further information on the play and audio clips visit www.suburbthemusical.com.